Lotus herbaceus

Lotus herbaceus is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Lotus of the family Fabaceae. The species includes the plants formerly called Dorycnium herbaceum and Dorycnium jordanii.^[1] The flowering period extends from May through July.

Lotus herbaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Lotus
Species:	L. herbaceus
Binomial name
Lotus herbaceus (Vill.) Jauzein[1]
Synonyms[1][2][3]
Dorycnium crantzii (Vis.) Brand Dorycnium gracile Jord. Dorycnium herbaceum Vill. Dorycnium jordanianum Willk. Dorycnium jordanii Loret & Barrandon Dorycnium sericeum Sweet Lotus crantzii Vis. Lotus dorycnium Crantz non L. Lotus hemorroidalis Lam. Lotus intermedius Loisel. Lotus jordanii (Loret & Barrandon) Coulot, Rabaute & J.-M.Tison Lotus sericeus DC.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:^[1]

• Lotus herbaceus subsp. gracilis (Jord.) Jauzein; synonyms include Dorycnium jordanii Loret & Barrandon – coast of the western Mediterranean, both Europe and Africa^[2]
• Lotus herbaceus subsp. herbaceus; synonyms include Dorycnium herbaceum Vill. – southern and eastern Europe through Turkey to the Caucasus^[3]

Distribution

Lotus herbaceus can be found in southern and eastern Europe through Turkey to the Caucasus. It also extends into northern Africa.^[1]